News from the Corporation Commission Matt Skinner, Public Information Phone: (405) 521-4180, [email protected]

January 4, 2010

NUMBERS, PLEASE The Oklahoma Corporation Commission moves to keep phones ringing in the 918 area code with no change in existing numbers

() Telephone customers in the 918 area code will not have to worry about their phone numbers changing because the area is running out of phone numbers. The Oklahoma Corporation Commission today approved a plan that will prevent so-called “number exhaust,” while at the same time allowing current residents, businesses, schools and local governments to keep their existing numbers.

Called an “overlay,” the plan calls for a new area code to be added to the entire existing 918 area code geographic area. There would be no change to existing numbers. Eventually, all new numbers in the area will get the new area code and after a lengthy transition phase, all local calls would be 10 digits. There will be no change in local call boundaries, or to 9-1-1 or 2-1-1 services.

Corporation Commission Chairman says the overlay plan is more equitable than a “split,” in which the area would be split into two, with one part getting a new area code.

“The overlay treats all in the area equally. As a Commissioner at the time when the 405 area code was split into 405/580, I well remember the impression it left of „winners and losers,‟ Anthony said. “The overlay technology was not practical at that time, but it is now, and I‟m glad we can take advantage of it. It requires uniform treatment of all customers and will not have any impact on number portability.”

Commission Vice-Chairman Jeff Cloud called an overlay “a cost-effective step toward the future.”

“An overlay is far less expensive for the phone companies to implement than a split, thus saving customers millions of dollars. Furthermore, the vast majority of area code changes in the United States since 2003 have been overlays,” Cloud noted. “Not only does it answer the question of how to treat all within the existing area code equitably, it also puts the area on a footing for the future. Many are already using 10 digit dialing as a matter of routine, and its use is expected to continue to grow. At the same time, businesses and schools with existing operations in various locations of the 918 area code won‟t have to worry about the trouble and expense of changing their existing numbers.”

Commissioner , who supported the split plan, called the “split versus overlay” a very difficult policy decision.

“I personally made numerous presentations across the 918 area code on this complex issue, and had OCC staff meet with both state and area officials on this matter. Staff also held numerous town hall meetings, and the Commission also solicited public opinion both through our web site and via an 800 number. One thing was made clear: There are many sharply differing views on how best to handle this issue. There are advantages and disadvantages to either plan.

“It is my belief that a geographic area code split would be the most consistent approach and result in less disruption to the greatest number of customers,” Murphy added. “It would keep both equality and consistency between the eastern and western portions of Oklahoma, help rural and urban areas maintain their identities, and be less confusing. It would also allow customers to keep 7 digit dialing for local calls.

“However, now that the decision for an overlay has been made, we will work diligently to see this policy implemented in the best way possible.”

There will be no change whatsoever for telephone customers in the 918 area code until August 7, 2010. At that time, what‟s known as a “permissive calling” period will begin. Customers will be able to complete a local call within the 918 area code by using 7-digits or 10-digits (area code plus the number). This seven month period will give customers a chance to become accustomed to the new calling pattern. The permissive dialing period will end March 5, 2011. The new area code numbers will be available beginning April 1, 2011. However, new customers could still ask for and be assigned a 918 number, if they are still available.

After the Commission‟s decision today, the North American Numbering Plan Administration (NANPA) announced that the new area code will be 539.

NANPA has estimated that the 918 area code will run out of phone numbers in the first quarter of 2012.

-occ- (All OCC advisories and news releases are available at the Commission web site (www.occeweb.com)

EDITORS NOTE: A timetable of the area code changes in Oklahoma, a draft copy of the Order approved today, a map of the 918 area code, and Commissioner Murphy‟s dissenting opinion are attached.

NPANPA 918918 RateRate CenterCenter MapMap

SouthSouth BartlettBartlett SouthSouth ElginElgin SouthSouth BartlettBartlett PicherPicher SouthSouth CoffeyvilleCoffeyville PicherPicher SouthSouth HewinsHewins SouthSouth EdnaEdna SouthSouth ChetopaChetopa QuapawQuapaw GrainolaGrainola SouthSouth HewinsHewins SouthSouth EdnaEdna SouthSouth ChetopaChetopaCommerceCommerce CopanCopan CommerceCommerce Wann LenapahLenapah Welch ForakerForaker Miami DeweyDewey Webb City DeweyDewey West Seneca DelawareDelaware BlueBlue JacketJacket Wyandotte ShidlerShidler BartlesvilleBartlesville PawhuskaPawhuska BartlesvilleBartlesville FairlandFairland BurbankBurbank NowataNowata TiffTiff CityCity BurbankBurbank NowataNowata VinitaVinita OglesbyOglesby BigBig CabinCabin OglesbyOglesby AlluweAlluwe AftonAfton BarnsdallBarnsdall OchelataOchelata GroveGrove FairfaxFairfax Wynona TalalaTalala ChelseaChelsea SouthSouth WestWest CityCity RamonaRamona SouthSouth WestWest CityCity RalstonRalston RamonaRamona KetchumKetchum HominyHominy AvantAvant AvantAvant AdairAdair JayJay BlackburnBlackburn StrangStrang JayJay BlackburnBlackburn ClaremoreClaremore West Maysville DisneyDisney West Maysville SkedeeSkedee SkiatookSkiatook SkedeeSkedee CollinsvilleCollinsville SpavinawSpavinaw PryorPryor PawneePawnee PryorPryor PawneePawnee OsageOsage OsageOsage SperrySperry SalinaSalina ClevelandCleveland PruePrue OwassoOwasso ColcordColcord HallettHallett KansasKansas Maramec Maramec KeystoneKeystone LocustLocust GroveGrove JenningsJennings CatoosaCatoosa ChouteauChouteau FlintFlint Mannford SandSand SpringsSprings TulsaTulsa InolaInolaInola YaleYale OiltonOilton TulsaTulsa CedarCedar CrestCrest PeggsPeggs Mannford East CedarCedar CrestCrest Watts BrokenBroken ArrowArrow RipleyRipley SnugSnug HarborHarbor SapulpaSapulpa DrumrightDrumright SapulpaSapulpa JenksJenks Westville CushingCushing BixbyBixby NorthNorth KellyvilleKellyville CowetaCoweta Wagoner KieferKiefer BaronBaron AgraAgra BixbyBixby BaronBaron Mounds TahlequahTahlequah TryonTryon PorterPorter KendrickKendrick HaskellHaskell FortFort GibsonGibson BeggsBeggs StroudStroud BristowBristow BeggsBeggs NPA 918 StilwellStilwell DepewDepew DavenportDavenport DepewDepew Muskogee Morris BoyntonBoynton BraggsBraggs

BoleyBoley W. Uniontown SparksSparks OkmulgeeOkmulgee W. Uniontown SparksSparks VianVian CouncilCouncil HillHill KeefetonKeefeton GoreGore

CastleCastle Warner Warner SallisawSallisaw Webbers Falls HenryettaHenryetta ChecotahChecotah OkemahOkemah HitchitaHitchita Muldrow

PorumPorum MoffettMoffett StiglerStigler FortFort SmithSmith EufaulaEufaula FortFort SmithSmith PocolaPocola HannaHanna KeotaKeota SpiroSpiro EnterpriseEnterprise DustinDustin LongtownLongtown CanadianCanadian BokosheBokoshePanamaPanama IndianolaIndianolaIndianola McCurtain CameronCameron QuintonQuinton QuintonQuinton KintaKinta ScipioScipio ScipioScipio CrowderCrowder CrowderCrowder FanshaweFanshawe PoteauPoteau RedRed OakOak Wister Wilburton McAlester Monroe Howe ArpelarArpelar NewNew HomeHome StuartStuart LefloreLeflore SummerfieldSummerfield HeavenerHeavener SavannaSavanna HartshorneHartshorne BuffaloBuffalo ValleyValley AshlandAshland BuffaloBuffalo ValleyValley TalihinaTalihina

Muse KiowaKiowa AlbionAlbion

Wardville NPANPA 918918 MapMap LegendLegend ClaytonClayton NashobaNashoba NPA Boundaries

Rate Center Boundaries

Produced by CDS Business Mapping, LLC 01/2008 Oklahoma Area Code history

1947 – 405 area code assigned to state of Oklahoma.

1953 – 918 area code assigned to eastern Oklahoma

1997 – Part of the 405 region assigned to 580 area code.

2009 – Plans announced for a fourth Oklahoma area code in the 918 region